Interchangeable volute spring unit



May 23, 1933. w. WINE INTERCHANGEABLE VOLUTE SPRING UNIT Filed June 4, 1928 gn oewtoz A attomqs Patented May 23, 1933 WILLIAM E. WINE, or TOLEDO, OHIO a I NrnRonANenAnLn vonwrn srnin ci mm when filed Jim}, 1928. Serial mambo.

The inventionrelatesto springs for use in railway car trucks for supporting the truckbolsten n is well known that it is the usualpram tice to provide a nest ot helical springs mounted Withinthe Windovvopening of'a truck side frame for supporting the. load,

- to thefcapacity of the car foravhich they are provided and being generally symmetrically grouped and confined between plates or caps. In the standardARA. truckconstruction there is a definite space within which the springs are located. As cars of greater capacity are built in accordance with the developments intherailroad art it becomes necessary to increase the capacity,

of the springs which support the load. Originally,lwhen the car capacity Was low,

a the number ofsprings usedand the capacity of the individual springs was small. As heavier carshave been ,built it has been foundnecessary to increase the' nuinber of springs inthe cluster or nest and it is now a common practice to provide groups of five splrings. Qwingfto the limitationsin a the design of spring assemblies resulting from the necessity forfconforming to standard dimensions, land requirements as to t go travel, itbeco mesa difiicult proposition to increase the capacity of the spring assemblybeyond a certain limit. To use a greater number of springsina group or icluste'r i involves the employment of a specially'constructed side frame with a larger window Openin thanordinarily. This solution of I the diculty objectionable as it entails j the making of neWequipment and precludes the usel of already existing side frames. 1 A rio Forthe/se reasons efforts have been made to increase the capacity of the well known helical springs by constructing them of special alloys and resorting to other efforts known to spring makers, for instance different methods of heat treatment; etc. 7 j It has also been contemplated that use he made of .a spring assembly including combinations ofhelical and circular plate ]spr'ings,and jcircular plate or disksprings alone toinypo crease the capacity; However reg'ardless of exist today.

which expedient has been resorted to, l 1 e open to the same objection, namely: th t thesprings are not resilientunder light or intermediate loads and this is particularly true 111 cases Where therehas been an 1n- 5 crease in the number of springs in the cluster. the springs varying in number according It isknown to engineers and others that a spring of the volute type possesses great capacity for the amount of material from which it is formed. This fact has been taken advantage of in the design of spring; and combined spring and friction draft gears as evidenced by their employment particuof railroad development certain attempts Were made to employ volute springs in con-t nection With railway car trncks but as the conditions as to travel andcapacity existing at that time are not comparable tothose in modern practicethese first attempts are of a little significance especially as there was no necessity for overcoming difficulties such as It should alsobementioned that helical springs all have a definite period of vibration which'synchronizefwith one another and which if synchronized with the passage of the car Wheelsfover rail joints will result in the developmentof car rollor side sway 30 which if permitted to continue may cause derailnie11t. It is known that a volute spring, owing to the plurality of convolutions of different diameters does not possess adefinite periodlof vibration, a fadt bfgg;

"which I take advantage in the carrying out of my invention.

It iSWith all of the above factsinvieW that I have devisedthe present invention which has for itsfgeneral object the substitution of volute springs for helical springs for resiliently supporting thebolsters in car trucks. a i a a p i An important object of the inventionis to provide an assembly of volutesprings prefo5 erably symmetrically arranged in accord ance with the established grouping of helical springs andof snch size as to be used in connection with the end plates or caps or a standard spring nest so "that the assembly will be capable of replacing a standard A.R.A. helical spring nest, it being consequently possible to provide a greatly increased spring capacity in existing trucks without any change whatsoever in the construction of the trucks themselves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring assembly comprising the combination with standard A.R.A. spring caps of a group or cluster of volu'te springs arranged in a manner corresponding to the customary helical spring arrangement, together with filler means which will compensate for the difference between the length of standard helical springs .and the length or height of volute springs of a given desired capacity, the entire assembly being Figure 1 is a view partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section showing a spring assembly constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail side elevation of one of the filler members alone, I

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the spring retaining or centering devices.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing a modification of the spring cap,

Figure 6 is a detail plan-view of a modified form of filament.

Referring more particularly to thedrawing, the numeral 1 designates the top and bottom spring caps which preferably conform to the standard A.R.A. design and which are preferably similar or identical in construction. The type of capillustrated is of plate-like form and of the customary shape for use with a cluster of five springs. The cap is provided with a plurality of circular depressed portions defining projections 2 provided for the purpose of extending into the ends of the usual helical springs for centering them properly and for restraining them against anyla teraldisplacement during deflection. As the plates are formed of sheet metal andas the projections 2 are defined by stamping, each projection is formed with a central opening 8. In the ordinary type of spring assembly in which helical springs are used in conjuncfor the difference mentioned.

tion with these caps it is the practice to hold the parts assembled by means of a bolt 4 passing through the openings in the central projections in exactly the same manner illustrated in Figure 2 in the present instance. Obviously more of such bolts could be provided extendingthrough others of said projections if such be found advisable or advantageous for any reason.

. In carrying out the present invention the usual helical springs are replaced by volute springs5; In the present instance I have shown the helical springs as entirely eli1ninated and replaced by a corresponding number of volute springs though it is conceivable that a combination of the two types might be provided if desired. The thickness or gauge, the Width and also the length of the stock from which each volute-spring is form.- ed necessarily depends upon the contemplated capacity in relation to the travel and these factors will also determine the number f convolutions. The spacing of the convolutions naturally depends upon. whether or not thcreis any intention that they come in cont-act and produce friction at a certain point in their travel or during deflection. If no friction is desired it is obvious that the spacing must be suflicient that there will be no contact betweenthe convolutions at any time during closure of the spring.

The volute springs are of course located uponthe bottom cap and if the cap be of the described type as shown in Figures 1 and 2 I contemplate providing cups 6 within which the lower ends of the springs fit, the cups themselves being centrally apertured at 7 for the accommodation of the projections 2. These cups will function as means for properly centering the springs and for preventing them from lateral displacement. If use he made of the type of cap shown at 8 in Figure 5, in which type there are flanges 9 at the corners, such cups might be omitted. It is preferable that the vo'lute springs have the same travel'as the usual helical springs which they replace but as it is clear that there isnoabutting engagement of the convolutions in a volute spring as compared with theengagement of the coils in a helical spring a volut'e spring of a given travel and capacity will be'of considerably less height than a helical spring. It is for this reason that I provide filler means in association with the volute springs to compensate I Accordingly I make use of filler members 10 corresponding in number to the number of volute springs and interposed between the upper ends thereof andthe underside of the top cap. Each filler member is recessed at its upper side as shown at 11 for the accommodation of the projection 2 and is provided at. its underside with a projection 12 corresponding to the projection 2 and adapted types are generally provided with projec- 7,

cesses," notshown, in the underside oi? the truck bolster and in the spring plank. When the spring assembly is in use it is clear that owing to the very nature or the tions 13 which fit within correspondin reinherent characteristics of "olute springs ithere will be a resilient supporting action even underlightest load conditions. By specially forming the volute springs from: stock ofyaryingwidth or varying thickness, for instance as disclosed in the co-pending applicationof Cyrus J. Holland,'Serial No. 208,349, filedJuly 25th, 1927, itis easily possible; to vary therelationof the travel to load variations. If desired, the volute springs may be formed as indicated in my eo-pending application filed May 1st, 1928,

Serial No. 274,307, wherein Ihave disclosed construction in which the corner of the stoclrfrom which the spring is formed'is laterally offset to define a flatbearing portion Said co-pending application shows I this construction at the innermost and outerbe formed as shown in Figure 6' wherein the filler" 10* is represented as having an extension 12 which is not cylindrical but lwhich is so shaped as tobe received Within the innermost convolutionfwith due allowto the employmentof volute springsin this ance for the flattened surface thereon.

A distinct feature of advantage incident connection is that they have'no definiteperiod of vibration and there will consequently se frequently results the development of excessive car rollor side sway. From the foregoing it isbelieved that the construction,

, further explanation.

operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skillediin the art without I While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it

all such changes in the details of construe tion as will widen the field of utility and should be understood that the disclosure is 60,

merely an exeniplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make increase the adaptability of the device profrom thespirit ofthe invention or the scope of the claims hereuntoappended 7 Having thus described theinventiori, I claim: 5 a

'1. A truck spring assembly comprising the combination of standard spring caps,

voluteasprings arranged therebetween, and meanscooperatmg with the springs and one ofthe caps to: compensate for the difference between the height of'standard helical springs and corresponding volute springs having the same-or a greater capacity with the same lllZlVBlw 1 a l V 2. The combination with a standard truck side frame and bolster, of a spring assembly serving ;as ia replacement for anxAltA.

standard spring nest and comprising top and bottom caps, a plurality of volute springs arranged; therebetween, and filler means interposedbetweenonecap and the adjacent ends of the volute springs to compensate for the difference between the height of standard helical springs and theheight of volute springshavingthesame travel but a different capacityr N i 3. Af spring assembly for supporting a truckbolster withinatruck side frame, comprising the combination with ARA standard spring caps, of volute' springs arranged between the caps, the capshaving projections extending toward each other, and filler members engaged between one cap and the adjacent ends of thevolute springs, the filler members being recessed for the accommodation of the projections on one cap and being formed with corresponding projections e11- teringthe springs. 1 i

'4. A spring*assembly for supporting a truck-bolster withina truck side framefcom prising the combination withAnRA standard spring caps, ofvolute springs arranged between the caps, the caps having projections "jacent ends of the volute springs, the filler members being recessedfor the accommodation of thepro ections on one cap and being i a a y formed with correspondingprojections enbe a total absence 0f SYIIChIOIHZELUOIL WlilCll tering thesprings, and means on the other cap for centering the volute springs and prisingthe combination with ARA. standard spring caps, ofvolute springs arranged between the caps, the caps having projections extending towardeach other, filler members engaged between ,one cap and the adjacent ends of the volute springs, thefiller members being recessed for the accommodatio i of the, projections on one cap and being formed with corresponding projections entering the springs, and means engaged npon the projecti'ons 011 the other cap engaging the adj acent ends of the volute sp rings.'

6. A spring assembly for supporting a truck bolster within a truck side frame, comprising the combination with A.R.A. standard spring caps, of volute springs arranged between the Caps, the caps having projections extending toward each other, filler members engaged between one cap and the adjacent end of the volute springs, the filler 1nembers being recessed for the accommodation of the projections on one cap and being formed with corresponding projections entering the springs, and means engaged upon the projections on the other cap engaging the adjacent ends ofth-e volute springs in encircling relation thereto. r

7. A spring assembly for supporting a truck bolster within a truck side frame, comprising the combination with A.R.A. standard spring caps, of volute springs arranged between the caps, the caps having projections extending. toward each other,

filler members engaged between one capand the adjacent ends of the volute springs, the filler members being recessed for the accommodation of the projections on one cap and being formed with corresponding projections entering the springs, and cup members centrally apertured for engagement upon the projections on the other cap and encirclingly engaging the other ends of the volute springs. I

8. A spring assembly for supporting atruck bolster within a truck side frame, comprising the combination of spring caps, volute springs arranged therebetween, the caps having projections extending toward each other, and filler members engaged between one cap and the adjacent ends of the volute springs, the filler members being recessed for engagement with said projections on one cap and having extensions entering the springs.

9. A spring assembly for supporting a truck bolster within a truck side frame, comprising the combination of spring caps, a plurality of volute springs arranged therebetween, filler members arranged between one cap and the adjacent ends of the volute springs, means preventing lateral displace ment of the'filler members with respect to the cap engaged by them, and means on the filler members engaging and centering said springs.

10. A spring assembly for supporting a truck bolster within a truck side frame, comprising the combination with spring caps, of volute springs arranged therebetween, and means for centering and retaining the springs comprising individual filler members corresponding in number to the number of springs disposed against one cap and having projections entering the innermost convolutions of the springs and shaped to conform to the opening within the inner: most convolution.

11. A truck spring assembly comprising spring caps, a plurality of volute springs arranged therebetween, filler members disposed .against one cap and having projections entering and having an external shape corresponding to that of the inner peripheries of the inner convolutions of the springs, means engaging within said filler members for holding them against displacement, and means carried by the other cap and engaging the outermost convolutions of said springs for assisting in centering them.

12. A spring assembly for supporting a truck bolster comprismg spring caps having projections extending toward each other, a plurality of volute springs arranged between the caps, filler members disposed againstone cap and receiving the projections thereon and having projections engaged within the volute springs, and cup members disposed against the other spring cap and embracing the large ends of the volute springs, said cup members being ap ertured and receiving the projections on the second named cap.

13. A railway car truck spring assembly involving spaced spring caps of the type having portions projecting toward each other for centering a helical spring adapted to be disposed therebetween, a volute spring disposed between the spring caps, and members respectively interposed between the spring caps and the adjacent ends of the volute spring and constituting means for centering the latter, each of said interposed members having a portion receiving a projecting portion of the adjacent spring cap and being thereby restrained from lateral displacement relatively to the spring.

14;. A railway car truck spring assembly involving spaced spring caps of the type having portions projecting toward each other for centering a helical spring adapted to be disposed therebetween, a volute spring disposed between said spring caps, and a filler member interposed between one end of the volute spring and the. adjacent spring cap, said interposed member having a portion receiving the projecting portion of the said adjacent springcap and being thereby restrained from lateral displacement with respect to said cap.

15. A railway car truck spring assemblyinvolving spaced spring caps of the type having portions projecting toward each other for centering a helical spring adapted to be disposed therebetween, a volute spring disposed between said spring caps, and means for centering the volute spring involving a member interposed between one end of the spring and the adjacent spring cap, said interposed member bein recessed to receive the said projecting portion of the said last named spring cap and being restrained by said portion from lateral displacement with respect tothe spring cap.

16. A railway car truck spring assembly involving spaced spring caps of the type having inwardly projecting bosses for centering a helical spring adapted to be interposed therebetween, a volute spring disposed between said spring caps, and means for centering the volute spring involving a member interposed between one end of the latter and the ad acent spring cap, sald 1nterposed member having a portion enclrcling the boss of the last named spring cap and being restrained by said boss from lateral displacement with respect to the said spring cap. V 1

lZLA railway car truck spring assembly involving spaced spring caps of the type which are adapted toreceive a helical spring therebetween and which are respectively formed with body portions against which a the spring is adapted to seat and also formed with inwardly extending projections adapted to center the spring, a volute spring disposed between said spring caps, and a filler member engaging the body portion of one;

of said spring caps and interposed between the latter and the adjacent end of the volute spring,said filler member being recessed to receive the inwardly extending projections of the adjacent spring cap whereby lateral movement of the filler member with respect to the spring cap is prevented.

18. A railway car truck springassembly involving spaced spring caps of the type spring cap to prevent relative lateral displacement of said member and cap.

20. A railway car truck spring assembly involving spaced spring caps of the type which are adapted to receive a helical spring and which are respectively formed with inwardly extending projections adapted to center the helical spring, a volute spring dis posed between said spring caps, and means for centering the volute spring involving a member interposed between one end of the latter and the adjacent spring cap, said member being apartured to receive the said a projection of the said adjacent spring cap and preventing lateral displacement of the member relatively to the cap and being provided With an annularmarginal flange overlappingly engaging the outermost convolution of the spring for preventing lateral displacemetof the spring with respect to the member.

-In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM E. WINE.

which are adapted to receive a helical spring v ceive the projection of the adjacentspring cap for preventing relative lateral displacement between said cap and member. 1 j

19. A railway car truck spring assembly involving spaced spring caps of the type which are adapted to receive a helical spring and which are respectively formed with inwardly extending projections adapted to center the helical spring, a volute spring disposed between said spring caps, and means for centering the volute spring involving a member interposed between one end of the latter and the adjacent spring cap, said member having an annular flange ararnged in overlapping relation to the outermost convolution of the volute spring and having an aperture located centrally of the flange for receiving the projection of the 

